Some might say they live their best life at the beach. While I do love a good beach to laze the day away, there is something about lake life that really suits my fancy. It’s peaceful, simple and I don’t have to fight for space on the sand. Lucky for me as a proud Tennessee resident I am surrounded by several beautiful lakes all within an hour’s drive.
This past weekend, my girlfriends and I spent the afternoon on Old Hickory Lake that sits on the northeast side of Nashville. We booked a boat from Freedom Boat Club, complete with an amazing captain (shout out to Angie!), and set sail on a sunset “dock and dine” cruise. This incredible culinary experience took us on a scenic ride to some of the area’s top waterfront dining gems. It seriously felt like a true girlfriend’s getaway with the perk of being a very short drive from home.
As Tennessee’s largest and most awarded boat club, Freedom Boat Club offers an unrivaled boating experience. With unlimited access to 12 premier locations across the state and more than 400 clubs worldwide, members enjoy the freedom to explore without limits. Their top-quality fleet, easy-to-use reservation system, and exceptional service team ensure every outing is safe, stress-free, and memorable. See why more boaters choose them, the best way to boat in Tennessee starts here. They own the boats, and you get to enjoy them! They invest in and maintain a premium fleet of brand-new tritoons, double-deckers, bowriders, and surf boats, so you can hit the water without the hassle of ownership.
Check out our full “dock and dine” cruise itinerary below!
We arrived at Cedar Creek Marina in Mt. Juliet which was only about a 40 minute drive east of downtown Nashville. We met our boat Captain, put on our sunscreen and set sail. The weather was absolutely perfect as we sailed on the calm waters of Old Hickory Lake.
We docked our boat at Sam’s at Blue Turtle Bay which was clearly a popular eatery for boaters and locals alike. This place had all the trappings of a longstanding lakeside bar and grill with plenty of fishing and boat paraphernalia to admire.
We grabbed some drinks and light appetizers as we watched the sun start to dip lower in the sky from the outdoor dining pier.
The sound of the light breeze on the water was the perfect late afternoon soundscape.
We hopped back on the boat and cruised to The Rudder at Anchor High Marina. When we stepped off the boat we could feel the fun energy coming from the crowd at the Tiki Bar. I felt like I had been swept away to the Florida Keys! There was live music, outdoor games, and plenty of green space to relax and sip your cares away.
The menu was just what we were expecting, including plenty of seaside fare like mahi-mahi burgers, hot crab dip, and, my personal favorite, fish tacos. We settled in at The Rudder for quite awhile enjoying a delicious dinner and incredibly refreshing drinks.
As we sailed back to Cedar Creek Marina to our final dining destination the sun was beginning to set and needless to say it was picture perfect.
We docked at the marina and headed into Scoreboard Bar & Grill, the go-to dining spot for anyone spending the day on (or near) the water. The atmosphere was super casual with live music and friendly staff and the menu was loaded with casual faves like crab cakes, salads, burgers, pizza and more. They also serve up a yummy brunch on the weekends I will definitely be returning to experience!
As we left I thought to myself how perfectly this experience closed out my summer. On further thought as I drove home I realized: this is Tennessee! Summer weather stays around long after the first official day of fall. I can experience lake life for several weekends to come!
With that said, if you need me, I’ll be at the lake.
